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The
history of the Indian Navy can be traced back to 1612 when
Captain Best encountered and defeated the Portuguese. This
encounter, as also the trouble caused by the pirates, forced the
British East India Company to maintain a small fleet at Swally,
near Surat(Gujarat). The First Squadron of fighting ships
arrived on 5 September 1612, forming what was then called the
Honourable East India Company's Marine. It was responsible for
the protection of the East India Company's trade in the Gulf of
Cambay and the river mouths of the Tapti and Narmada. The
officers and the men of this force went on to play an important
role in surveying the Arabian, Persian and Indian coastlines.
Although
Bombay had been ceded to the British in 1662, they physically
took possession of the island on 8 February 1665, only to pass
it on to the East India Company on 27 September 1668./ As a
consequence, the Honourable East India Company's Marine also
became responsible for the protection of trade off Bombay.
By
1686, with British commerce having shifted predominantly to
Bombay, the name of this force was changed to Bombay Marine.
This force rendered unique service, fighting not only the
Portuguese, Dutch and French, but also interlopers and pirates
of various nationalities. The Bombay Marine was involved in
combat against the Marathas and the Sidis and participated in
the Burma War in 1824.
 In
1830, the Bombay Marine was renamed Her Majesty's Indian Navy.
With the capture of Aden by the British and the institution of
the Indus Flotilla, the Navy's commitments grew manifold, and
its deployment in the China War in 1840 bears adequate testimony
to its proficiency.
Whilst
the Navy's strength continued to grow, it underwent numerous
changes of nomenclature over the next few decades. It was
renamed the Bombay Marine from 1863 to 1877, after which it
became Her Majesty's Indian Marine. At this time, the Marine had
two divisions, the Eastern Division based at Calcutta under the
Superintendent, Bay of Bengal, and the Western Division at
Bombay under the Superintendent, Arabian Sea. In recognition of
the services rendered during various campaigns, its title was
changed to Royal Indian Marine in 1892, by which time it
consisted of over 50 vessels. The Royal Indian Marine went into
action with a fleet of minesweepers, patrol vessels and troop
carriers during the First World War when mines were detected off
Bombay and Aden, and was utilised mainly for patrolling,
ferrying troops and carrying war stores to Iraq, Egypt and East
Africa.
The
first Indian to be granted a commission was Sub Lieutenant
D.N Mukherji who joined the Royal Indian Marine as an
engineer officer in 1928. In 1934, the Royal Indian Marine was
re-organised into the Royal Indian Navy, and was presented the
King's Colour in 1935 in recognition of its services. At the
outbreak of the Second World War, the Royal Indian Navy
consisted of eight warships. By the end of the war, its strength
had risen to 117 combat vessels and 30,000 personnel who had
seen action in various theatres of operations.
On
India attaining Independence, the Royal Indian Navy consisted of
32 ageing vessels suitable only for coastal patrol, along with
11,000 officers and men. The senior officers were drawn from the
Royal Navy, with R Adm ITS Hall, CIE, being the first
Post-independence Commander-in-Chief. The prefix 'Royal' was
dropped on 26 January 1950 with India being constituted as a
Republic. The first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Navy was
Adm Sir Edward Parry, KCB, who handed over to Adm Sir
Mark Pizey, KBE, CB, DSO in 1951. Adm Pizey also
became the first Chief of the Naval Staff in 1955, and was
succeeded by V Adm SH Carlill, CB, DSO.
On 22 April
1958 V Adm
RD Katari
assumed office as the first Indian Chief of the Naval Staff.
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